"When you think of the Mexican Riviera, with its palm-fringed beaches, luxuriant jungle vegetation and posh resorts, many places come to mind. But no resort better typifies the classic Mexican beach vacation than does Puerto Vallarta. From its sleepy, seaside village roots, it has grown into one of Mexico's most loved destinations.
As you arrive by plane, Puerto Vallarta's romance and beauty begin to take hold, a blanket of lush tropical jungle surrounds the quaint colonial city as it climbs away from the blue Pacific, into the Sierra Cuale mountains."

"Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., drives away after a news conference in Warren, R.I., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005. Chafee announced he has secured $11 million in federal funds to construct a new bridge on Route 114 over the Palmer River. In a state where barely 11 percent of the registered voters are Republican, and about half are not affiliated with any political party, Chafee must court Democrats to win. (AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)
WARREN, R.I. &#8212; It's a steamy day on the Rhode Island riverfront, so Sen."

"By Chris Ericksen
Back in 1939, Ernest Nunes of the Nunes Brothers Boat Works of Sausalito developed a boat said to be "a practical boat for all weather sailing . at a moderate price."
It was 18 feet long, had a fixed keel and was designed for the strong breezes of San Francisco Bay. Nunes called the boat the Mercury.
It was built of a revolutionary material: waterproof plywood. It was so unique that it was displayed at the 1939 World's Fair held on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay."

"Who do you think benefits most from corporate investments in technological research and development: so-called "early adopters" or average consumers? After I reviewed Infinity's top-of-the-line, high-performance Prelude MTS speakers a few years ago for Stereophile (Joel Brinkley reviewed the 5.1 version in The Stereophile Guide to Home Theater), I would have concluded "early adopters." But after spending a few months with the relatively inexpensive Beta ensemble, which is based on the driver technology developed for the Prelude MTS, I think mainstream consumers gain the most and they get it at near Wal-Mart prices."

"12 Night EUROPE Cruise
Departing from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Departing on June 15, 2006
Visual Tour: Century
Century
Century is a timeless vessel; the perfect blend of world-class amenities, advanced technology and classic style. Ten decks feature AquaSpaSM (A serene water environment where touch, texture and architectural design come together to cleanse and purify the body, mind and spirit) the two-tiered Grand Restaurant graced by ajestic columns and floor-to-ceiling windows. Have a seat and prepare to enjoy the award-winning cuisine of Master Chef Michel Roux. Michael's Club and the first cigar bar at sea."

"The Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship,
Norwegian Cruises' newest ship was purpose-built
for Freestyle Cruising. The Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship
will be sailing round-trip from New York to the Bahamas,
including the fabulous ports of Nassau, Great Stirrup
Cay, Miami and Port Canaveral. The Norwegian Dawn Cruise
Ship will offer the ultimate cruise combination of
beautiful beaches, theme parks and Norwegian
Cruises private island paradise of Great Stirrup
Cay."

"The singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, according to American reporters, has shown interest in buying there, and the actor John Cusack has viewed homes to share with his Venezuelan girlfriend.
Not all its residents are American, however. In the past few years, an increasing number of Brits have forked out as much as 8.5m for a slice of Fisher Island, built in the 1920s as a winter escape by William and Rosamund Vanderbilt."

"THOUGH NOT COMMONLY recognized by economists as an index of affluence, sunglasses seem to me as able a barometer as any of a city's relative prosperity. Strolling the streets of Zagreb, Croatia's stately capital of 800,000 people, on a sunny Saturday morning, wearing normal prescription eyeglasses, I felt naked, exposed as a foreigner. Drawn toward a dull roar of eager conversation, yapping lap dogs, and laughing children, I wound up on Tkalciceva, the wide pedestrian thoroughfare between Kaptol and Gradec, the two ancient hills that flank the city's historic center."

"Getting There \\
Fly from New York to Dubrovnik via Frankfurt on Lufthansa (from $1,510; 800-645-3880, www.lufthansa.com); or from New York to Dubrovnik via Vienna on Austrian Airlines (from $1,260; 800-843-0002, www.aua.com)
Prime Time \\
June, July, and August account for two-thirds of the annual visitor
Map of Croatia
Check out Marco Cibola's map of Croatia
totals, and during those months you will want to reserve ahead of time, as there's nothing quite so disappointing as showing up on an island only to find all of its accommodations booked solid and no ferries back until the next day."